plate no. 4923

Self Portrait

Beauford Delaney, 1944

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfigurehatfaceexpressionism

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create dynamic portraits. It also encourages exploration of non-realistic color palettes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and shoulders, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of yellow ochre, varying the tone slightly.
step 03
Establish the main color areas of the face using broad strokes of green, yellow, and hints of red.
step 04
Define the hat with bold strokes of red, adding white and black for highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the shirt with blue, using turquoise and white for highlights and variations.
step 06
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth, using a variety of colors and brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figure, blending some areas and leaving others raw.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall expression and vibrancy.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

secondary · viridian green · titanium white · ivory black

Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, green, and small amounts of red and blue. Use white to lighten and black to darken. Mix blue and yellow to create the turquoise highlights on the shirt.

techniques